Stitch & Related Abbreviations Glossary

Basics

K: knit. Often will show up as k# where number is how many stitches to knit.

P: purl. Similarly, may be seen as p#.

S: slip. Unless otherwise noted, slip the stitch from your left needle to your right (working) needle without changing its orientation, or as if you were going to purl it (purlwise). 

PU: pick up. You may need to "pick up" stitches along an edge to start knitting in a different direction - a common example would be adding a sleeve to a sweater, where you'd be picking up stitches in the armhole. 

RS: right side. Not every knitted thing will have an "outside" or "right side" but when there is one, you'll definitely want to know which one it is.

WS: wrong side.

Twisting stitches

Ktbl: knit through back loop

Ptbl: purl through back loop

Cables

Cabling refers to working stitches out of order so the fabric crosses over itself, which typically involves use of a cable needle. It's often used in cozy sweaters or blankets.

• C#L or C#F: cable # stitches left/front. This is typically a number divisible by 2, but does not strictly have to be. Slip #/2 stitches purlwise to the cable needle and hold in front of work; knit #/2 stitches from left needle; optionally, return stitches from cable needle back to left needle and knit them, or just knit stitches from cable needle.
• C#R: cable # stitches right/back. This is typically a number divisible by 2, but does not strictly have to be. Slip #/2 stitches purlwise to the cable needle and hold in back of work; knit #/2 stitches from left needle; optionally, return stitches from cable needle back to left needle and knit them, or just knit stitches from cable needle. 

Increases and decreases

M1: make 1 stitch. Can be done in a variety of ways!

• M1L: make 1 left-leaning stitch. Bring left needle through bar between stitches from front to back, then knit through the back loop.
• M1R: make 1 right-leaning stitch. Bring left needle through bar between stitches from back to front, then knit.

inc: increase. Typically used as in "inc 34" = increase by 34 stitches.

dec: decrease. May be used to indicate how many stitches to decrease, or how many stitches should remain after decreasing (ex: "dec to 20" = decrease to 20 stitches remaining).

YO: yarn over. Wrap the yarn around your working needle - it's not really a stitch but you can work into it next row as if it were. This basically makes a little hole.

SKYP: slip, knit, yarn over, pass slipped stitch over.

K2tog: knit two stitches together.

SSK: slip, slip, knit together. Slip each stitch knitwise so they get twisted, then knit them both together.

P2tog: purl two stitches together.

SSP: slip, slip, purl together through back loop. 

PSSO: pass slipped stitch over. Use the left needle to pass the slipped stitch over one or more stitches on the right needle and drop it off the needles - it will be 'wrapped' around the stitch(es) you passed it over.